Pilgrimage, Trade and Empire: A GIS Investigation of Pre-Hispanic Roads in the Ocoña and Chorunga Valleys of Peru

A GIS investigation of pre-Hispanic roads in the Ocoña and Chorunga Valleys, Peru, reveals that long-established Andean landscape perceptions, trade patterns, and land use influenced Inca territorial expansion. The study found that the Inca state reused pre-Inca trails and sacred sites for state-sanctioned spiritual activities, potentially legitimizing their power and claim to abundant mineral resources in the region. The analysis of roads and associated sites, using data from excavations, pedestrian surveys, and drone imagery, suggests a strategic connection between these valleys and broader Andean history. A notable finding is the huaca Corral Redondo, a rare low-elevation Inca capacocha offering site, which may exemplify this phenomenon.

Evilla, G. Pilgrimage, Trade and Empire: A GIS Investigation of Pre-Hispanic Roads in the Ocoña and Chorunga Valleys of Peru. https://doi.org/10.56902/etdcrp.2025.121